Empowered to Connect Podcast

Latest Episodes:

[E35] The Power of Being Present with Dan Coley - Throwback Episode! Apr 13, 2021

Show notes

If you attended Show Hope's 'Hope for the Journey' Conference, you were introduced to Dan and Terri Coley. Longtime friends of Empowered to Connect, Dan and Terri have built a legacy of parenting wisdom and mentorship in the connected parenting world. Episode 5 of the ETC Podcast featured Dan, Mo Ottinger and our host, JD Wilson talking about the power of being present and it still today is one of our most listened to episodes ever.

We thought it would be fitting today to throw back to that episode - if you've not yet listened, we're so excited for you to do so! Dan, Mo and JD discuss why it's often so difficult for dads to be present and their own stories of doing the heart work necessary to be able to really engage the hearts of the people they love.

Please enjoy this conversation with one of our favorite humans on earth, Dan Coley.

To learn more about Empowered to Connect or to find more of ETC's resources, check us out at Empoweredtoconnect.org or follow us on Facebook or Instagram!

[E34] BONUS EPISODE! Connection Based Parenting: Stories of Hope Apr 09, 2021

Show notes

That's right, it's a BONUS EPISODE of the ETC Podcast today! In light of Show Hope's Hope For the Journey Conference going live today, we at ETC wanted to share some stories of hope. Everyone on this connected parenting journey was inspired to begin parenting this way at some point - and at some point shortly after starting, probably failed miserably. That's the story at least for the 5 families who came together to discuss their connection based parenting journeys on the show today. Join our host JD Wilson and his wife Elizabeth, Mo and Tona Ottinger from ETC, Matthew and Anteelah Love, Chris and Paula Powell as well as Matt and Grace Terhune as they discuss how it started and how it's going.

If your parenting soul is struggling today and could use some stories of solidarity in the struggle, this episode is for you!

To learn more about ETC, check out empoweredtoconnect.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube!

[E33] Hope for the Journey with Emily Chapman Richards Apr 06, 2021

Show notes

As the team from Show Hope makes their final preparations for the Hope for the Journey Conference Streaming this Friday (April 9th, 2021), we sat down with Show Hope's Executive Director, Emily Chapman Richards! We first heard about Emily as the 10 year old adoption advocate in the back of her parents' car. We learn today what happened in the rest of the story as Emily went on to become the Executive Director of an organization advocating for and assisting in the care of vulnerable children literally around the world. Emily is a great interview and you'll want to hear her talk about everything from those early moments through the exciting work that Show Hope is doing now as well as an inside peek at the Hope for the Journey Conference!

If you've not yet registered for the Hope for the Journey Conference you can do so at showhope.org!

To learn more about ETC, check out empoweredtoconnect.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube!

[E32] Set Appropriate Expectations Mar 30, 2021

Show notes

It happens to the best of us - we have everything laid out the way it's supposed to go and it completely falls apart. The family vacation ends in disaster, the Target run ends with someone on the floor melting down, we sit at night and wonder how we were so wrong about what life would look like by now. Expectations - we all have them and when they're unrealistic or misguided in their formation, they can be detrimental. There's good news, though! By recognizing and identifying expectations we've had, we can begin to evaluate them and reset appropriate expectations - and maybe most importantly, begin to teach our kids the same skills. We cover all of this and more today as we unpack another foundational piece of one of our connecting practices: Setting Appropriate Expectations.

To learn more about ETC, check out empoweredtoconnect.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube!

[E31] The Power of Saying YES! Mar 23, 2021

Show notes

As anyone with Netflix has seen in the last week or two, there's a famous ETC Principle in the newest Jennifer Garner movie - The Yes Day. No, ETC didn't make a movie, but there is lots to learn from the movie! JD, Tona and Mo sit down to talk about one of the most foundational principles in the ETC world - the power of saying yes.

"Isn't that just permissive parenting!?" "If you give these kids an inch, they're ALWAYS going to take a mile." "We aren't trying to spoil our kids." All very common responses to the principle of giving our kids 'yes' often. Yet research and experience from 15 years of ETC Parent Training will tell you otherwise. Join JD, Mo and Tona and learn why 'Yes' is a superpower in your parenting arsenal!

During the interview we reference several different resources on this topic - below we've linked those articles as well as some other resources from ETC on the Power of YES:

https://empoweredtoconnect.org/the-privilege-of-saying-yes/
https://empoweredtoconnect.org/building-trust-by-saying-yes/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SF6GmV7zg0
https://www.mindful.org/dr-dan-siegel-hearing-yes-childs-brain/

To learn more about ETC, check out empoweredtoconnect.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube!

[E30] How to Repair what You've Ruptured with Your Kids with Carissa Woodwyk Mar 16, 2021

Show notes

We've all done it. We've lost our temper, checked out, popped off, said something we shouldn't have or didn't say something we should have in a moment of weakness. If you're like us, you've probably already had a moment (or several) moments like this today - it's ok. Take a deep breath and let Marriage and Family Therapist Carissa Woodwyk and ETC's Tona Ottinger walk you through how to repair when you've ruptured something with yourself, your partner or a kiddo. Special heads up - be sure to listen all the way to the end to hear Carissa's perspective on this as an adoptee when she shares an intimate moment of self discovery related to her own story - you don't want to miss it.

To learn more about Carissa and her work, be sure to check out her first appearance on the show here or follow her on Instagram or Facebook!

To learn more about ETC, check out empoweredtoconnect.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube!

[E29] What Kids Need Most From Their Parents with Dr. Tina Payne Bryson Mar 09, 2021

Show notes

Our guest today is quite literally one of the most influential figures in the work we do at Empowered to Connect! Dr. Tina Payne Bryson is the Author of Bottom Line for Baby and 4 other co-authored books including two New York Times Bestselling works, The Whole Brain Child and No Drama Discipline. She is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Connection and the Play Strong Institute.

Tina joins us to talk about what kids need most from their parents and how we can create the felt safety in our homes to allow our children to heal and grow as whole people. Tina is a fantastic teacher and she walks us through everything from navigating meltdowns to creating felt safety in relationship with teens.

For more on Tina's work and her new parent group: Office Hours with Tina, click here!

To learn more about Empowered to Connect, visit us on our website, like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and now find all of our episodes on our YouTube channel!

[E28] The Road to Show Hope with Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman Mar 02, 2021

Show notes

Our guests today have bios too long to fit in this section, but many of you know their work. Steven Curtis Chapman is the most decorated Christian Music Artist of all time. With over 11 million albums sold, 49 #1 hits and 5 Grammys, Steven's been making music successfully for the better part of 3 decades. His wife, Mary Beth Chapman is a New York Times Bestselling Author for her book Choosing to See and the President of Show Hope - a non profit organization aimed at reducing the barriers to adoption.

While many of you may be familiar with Steven's music or the work of Show Hope, you may not be familiar with the story behind the Chapmans themselves or Show Hope's origin story (and we think you'll love it). Steven and Mary Beth join us to talk about everything from how they met to a 10 year old upending their lives, the founding of Show Hope and the transformation the organization has undergone since it began in 2003.

We also announce the exciting news about the Hope for the Journey Conference (formerly the Empowered to Connect Conference) and talk about the format for this year and some of the featured speakers - including our own Mo and Tona Ottinger! The one-day event is happening April 9th and will be viewable for two months after it premieres! You won't want to miss this opportunity, register today!

To learn more about Empowered to Connect, visit us on our website, like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and now find all of our episodes on our YouTube channel!

[E27] Why Authentic Self Awareness is the Key to Empowered Families with Larissa Gregory Feb 23, 2021

Show notes

We've spent a lot of time this year on the show talking about self - looking at adult attachment styles, considering what we need to offer ourselves as coregulators to our children, even talking about self-compassion as the true and better version of self care. Why, then, do we now look at self awareness!? We're glad you asked! Larissa Gregory is the head of LG Educational Consulting and works with individuals, teachers, administrations and families helping create safe, empowered spaces for children and families. After years in academic leadership, she joins us to talk about why she believes that Authentic Self Awareness is the Key to Empowered Families. Larissa gives several concrete, practical tools for us to walk away with to help restore relationship after conflict, to help restore our own mental spaces as self doubt and stress invade and more!

You can learn more about Larissa and LG Educational Consulting here!

To learn more about Empowered to Connect, visit us at empoweredtoconnect.org, on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube!

[E26] When Self Care Doesn't Cut It with Carissa Woodwyk Feb 16, 2021

Show notes

Self care is a hot topic these days - in fact, it's been a topic of conversation on our show several times. What happens, though, when your self care doesn't cut it? When you still find yourself empty and searching for what you need to care for your people well? Marriage and Family Therapist and longtime friend of ETC Carissa Woodwyk joins us to talk about how we have to move beyond self care to self compassion to be whole.

To learn more about Carissa's work and thoughts, follow her on Instagram @weneedoneanother or like her on Facebook !

To learn more about ETC, check out our website, follow us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube!

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